Typewriting machine



Nov. 11, 1930. s. F. HANDLEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1928 6 [m3 R mvlfm mi m we m I my w wm H a Nov. 11, 1930. G. F. HANDLEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec.

15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN 0R Ge/Wye anallqa 6M HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 11, 1930 GEORGE E. HANDLE-BY, 0F GLENDALE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL TYPEWR-ITER COMPANY, IHQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEXV YORK TYPEWRITING IIIACHIN Application filed December 15, 1928.

Th s invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines generally and in machines of analogous arts, although more par ticularly to improvements in automatic ribbon reversing mechanisms such as is disclosed in my Patent 1,570,218, January 19, 1926.

In this patent construction, a button or other projection, which is located on the ribhen adjacent the unwinding end thereof, is moved by the ribbon into contact with an arm and the latter is thereby moved against the tension of a spring to effect the automatic operation of the ribbon reversing mechanism. Immediately following the completion of the reversing operation, the arm is returned by the spring to its normal or retracted position. The return movement of this arm, by reason of its contact with the button, causes that portion of the ribbon between the now active ribbon spool and the button to be formed into a loose loop-like formation or slack portion which must be taken up by the rotation of the spool before the ribbon begins its actual reverse feeding movement. The ribbon, where it is engaged by the type, remains stationary until said slack is taken up, and this failure of the ribbon to feed results in the ribbon being perforated by the type at this one spot. It therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an automatic take-up mechanism for said ribbon loop or slack portion, which will function substantially instantaneously and immediately after the operation of the reversing mechanism, whereby the spool will immediately begin its feeding movement for the entire ribbon and the possibility of the type perforating the ribbon will be thereby avoided.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing an automatic. ribbon reversing mechanism embodying my invention, the view showing the reversing mechanism in operation;

Figure 2 is a top planview showing a part of the left hand ribbon spool, theribbon, and the ribbon controlled arm which actuates the reversing mechanism;

ure 3 is ahorizontal section taken Serial No. 826,318.

below the right hand spool and showing the ribbon take-up mechanisms;

Figure 4 a front elevation of a spool shaft, the upper portion of the lower section being in section;

Figure 5 is an end view partly in section showing the intermittent ribbon feeding means;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the left hand spool shaft and associated ribbon takeup and reversing means, the view showing the reversing means in operative position and the ribbon controlled arm being in position to return to its initial position and form a slack portion in the ribbon;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the ratchet for turning the upper section of the spool shaft in ribbon feeding direction with the lower section;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the right hand spool shaft showing a modified form of ribbon slack take-up means;

*Figure' 9 is a front elevation of the spool shaft shown in Figure 8 Figure 10 is a plan View of the collar which is fixed to the upper end of the shaft shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 11].1 of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings, the ribbon re versing mechanism shown therein generah ly of the same construction as disclosed in the Handley Patent 1,570,218 referred to above, and therefore I have not shown a typewriting machine to which the ribbon reversing mechanism is applied.

This ribbon reversing mechanism comprises generally a pair of ribbon spools A, A

which are respectively supported on vertical shafts B, B which in turn are each supported in offset arms 2 and 3 of a bracket 4 attached to the type bar segment. Fixed to the lower end of each spool shaft B is a bevel gear 5 with one of which meshes a bevel gear (3 at the right hand side of the machine and with the other of which meshes a similar bevel gear '7 at the other side of the machine, the gear 7 facing in opposite direction to the gear 6. The gears 6 and 7 are fixed to a driving shaft 8 which is journaled in downwardly extendfixed thereon a large ratchet wheel with fine teeth which are engaged by a pawl 11 pivotally connected at 12 to a universal bar 13 which is operated at each depression of the usual type key levers. A spring 14 yieldably retains the pawl 11 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 10. During printing the pawl 11 will operate to rotate the shaft 8, which rotation will be transmitted to one or to the other of the ribbon spool shafts B, dependent upon which gear 6 or 7 is in mesh with its cooperative bevel gear 5.

Adjacent the bevel gear 6, the shaft 8 is provided with a fixed collar 15 having two grooves 16 and 17. A spring pressed detent 18 is pivotally connected to the bracket 4 and cooperates with the grooves 16 and 17 to hold the shaft 8 in either of its longitudinal or endwise adjustments, whereby either the gear 6 will be disposed in mesh with the gear 5, or the gear 7 will be disposed in mesh with the other gear 5. Thus, when the shaft 8 is automatically moved endwise to reverse the rotations of the spool shaft B, said shaft 8 will be retained by the detent 18 in its adjusted position. Fixed to the shaft 8, at each end thereof, is a special gear 19 and associated with each gear is a vertically movable pawl 20 having a tooth 21 adjacent its lower end. The upper end of the pawl 20 is provided with a longitudinal slot 22 through which a pin 23 extends, said pin being fixed to an arm 24 of the bracket 4, and the lower end of the pawl is guided in an opening formed in a horizontal plate 25 attached to the machine frame 26. Thus, the pawl 20 is guided for vertical movements relative to the associated gear 19. Consequently, when the pawl is raised and the tooth 21 is brought into engagement with the gear teeth, the rotation of the drive shaft 5. 8 will cause a gear tooth to cam against the stationary tooth 21 of the pawl and thereby cause the shaft to move longitudinally, thereby coupling the gears 5 and 6 or 5 and 7 depending upon the direction of longitudinal movement of said shaft. Thus the ribbon spool A will be disconnected and the empty spool rotated in a direction to wind the ribbon thereon.

The reversing mechanism above described is duplicated at opposite sides of the machine but reversibly arranged in order that operation of the same will move the shaft 8 alternately in opposite directions.

The ribbon reversing mechanism is controlled and actuated by the ribbon C which is fed from one spool to the other, the ribbon passing through a ribbon vibrator D. The ribbon near each end is provided with a proiection or button 27 which as ribbon is nearly fed from one spool, engages a ribbon guide 28, and moves the latter in a direction away from the spool. This guide 28 is fixed to one end of an arm 29 which is supported on an arm 80 of the bracket 4 for straight line movements in a horizontal plane through the medium of a pin and slot connection 31 between said arms. The opposite end of the arm 29 is pivotally connected as at 31 to the upper end of a vertical arm 32 of a threearmed lever which is pivoted at its angle as 34 to the bracket arm 24. An arm 35 of said lever 33 is connected to the upper end of a coil spring 36, the lower end of said spring being connected to and yieldably supporting the pawl 20. The third arm 37 of said lever 38 is connected to the lower end of a coil spring 38, the upper end of the spring being connected to an ear 39 of the bracket 4.

Thus, when the but-ton 27 is moved outwardly by the feeding action of the ribbon, it

engages the ribbon guide 28 and moves the arm 29 in a straight line which in-turn rocks the three-arm lever 33 against the tension of the spring 38, and the arm 35 of said lever 33 through the medium of the spring 36 raises the pawl 20 to engage the tooth 21 thereof with a tooth of the spiral gear 19 and thereby move the driving shaft 8 longitudinally to effect a coupling of the driving gears of the associated spool and an uncoupling ofthe driving gears of the other spool. Simultane ously with the coupling of the gears, the spiral gear 19 becomes disconnected from the pawl 20, the spool shaft begins to rotate to feed the ribbon on the spool, and the spring 38 effects a quick return of the ribbon guide 28, arm 29, and lever 33 to their normal positions. The ribbon guide in its return movement pushes the button 27 and causes the formation of a loop or slack portion 0 in the ribbon between the spool and the guide.

This slack or loop portion 0 must be taken up by the rotation of the spool before the main portion of the ribbon begins its feed ing movement, because that portion of the ribbon which is engaged by the type remains stationary until the slack above described has been taken up and as a result the continued striking of the type against the stationary part of the ribbon results in said ribbon being perforated by the type.

In order to automatically take up this slack in the ribbon substantially instantaneously and immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism, I have provided th following ribbon slack take-up mechanism.

In the form illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, each spool shaft B is split intermediate its ends to form upper and lower sections 40 and 41 respectively, the upper end of the lower section being provided with a seat 42 for receiving a reduced lower portion 43 extending downwardly from the lower end of the upper section 40. The lower portion of the upper section 40 is provided on its periphery with a plurality of vertically disposed ratchet teeth 44. A collar is fixed to the upper end of the lower section 41, and pivoted on the upper face of this collar as at 46 is a pawl 47. The pawl 47 is provided with a nose 48 for engaging the ratchet teeth 44, and with a tail 49 which is engaged by one end of a flat spring 50 also attached to the upper face of the collar 45 and serving to yieldably retain the nose 48 of the pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth. Thus, upon rotation of the lower section 41 of the shaft B, the pawl 47 will be rotated therewith, and, through the medium of the nose 48 of said pawl engaging the ratchet; teeth 44, the upper section 40 of said shaft will be rotated in the same direction as the lower section. The upper section 40, however, is capable of being rotated at a greater speed and in the same direction as the lower section 41 by reason of the pawl 47 slipping over the ratchet teeth 44. A horizontally disposed spring arm 51 is pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of a the arm 32 of the lever 33 through the medium 0" the pivot 31, the other er free end of the arm 51 being mounted in an opening 52 formed in the ribbon guide arm 30. The arm 51 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending teeth 53 which, when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 6, are located in spaced relation to the ratchet teeth 44 of the spool shaft B. As soon as the operation of the reversing mechanism has been completed, the ribbon guide 28 is returned to its normal position, as above stated, and consequently the arm 51 will be moved simultaneously with the ribbon guide and in the same direction. As a result, the teeth 52 of the spring arm 51 will engage the ratchet teeth 44 of the spool shaft T4 and therebv rotate said upper se t on 40 in the same direction and faster than the rotation of the lower shaft section 41, thereby causing the spool to be rotated a suificient distance and in the proper direction to take up the slack in the ribbon, which, as above described, is located between the spool and the ribbon guide. Both sections of the shaft B will then rotate in unison to feed the entire ribbon.

In the modified form shown in Figures 8 to 11, the lower section 41 of the shaft B is provided below its upper end with a fixed col ar 54 having an upwardly extending drive finger 55 adapted to engage one or the other of spaced fingers 56 and 57 which are fixed to and depend from a collar 58 fixed to the lower end of the upper section 40 of said shaft. A coil spring 59 surrounds the lower section 41 between the collars 54 and 58, and the upper end of said spring is fixed to the collar 58 and the lower end of said spring is fixed to the collar 54. Thus the upper section 40 of said shaft is adapted to be rotated in either direction relative to the lower section 41, the spring 59 serving to normally retain the finger 56 in engagement with the stop finger 55 to thereby rotate the upper shaft section 40. Thus, upon rotation of the lower shaft section 41 of one spool shaft in a clockwise direction, the upper shaft section 40 will be rotated in the same direction, whereas the lower section of the other spool shaft will be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction.

it desirable to retain the lower section 41 of the spool shaft against rotation during the forward movement of the ribbon guide 28 so as to permit the ribbon during its feeding movement to rotate the upper section 40 of the shaft against the tension of the s yiring 59. I have, tl'ierefore, fixedly attached to the lower section 41 a collar 60 having circular series of teeth 61 fixed to the upper end thereof. A pawl 62 is formed as an extension of the arm 37 of the lever 33 and functions to engage between a pair of teeth 61 when the ribbon guide 28 is moved to its limit under the influence of the ribbon button 27. Thus the lower section 41 of the shaft is held against movement while the upper section 40 is being rotated under the influence of the ribbon feeding action. Consequently, soon as the ribbon guide 28 begins its return movement due to the operation of the reversing mechanism, the spring 59 will reversibly rotate the upper section 40 of the shaft together with the ribbon spool until the finger 56 reengages the stop finger if, a d thereby quick y talte up the slack in the ribbon between the ribbon guide 28 and said spool.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a ribbon reversing mechanism which is associated with each spool, a ribbon controlled means for actuating the reversing mechanism; a means for returninp 'he ribbon controlled means to its normal pesition ii'nmediately follmving the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon formed between the spool and the ribbon controlled means, and also a means which is operable during the return movement of said ribbon controlled means for automatically and quickly taking up the slack in the ribbon.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism, a ribbon reversing mechanism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism. means for returning the ribbon controlled means to its initial position immediately following the (nieration of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed, and means other than the ribbon feeding mechanism for automatically and substantially instantaneously taking up the slack in said ribbon immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism. I

2. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism, a ribbon reversing mechanism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism, means for returning; the r bbon controlled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed, and means operable during the return movement of the ribbon coutrolled means for automatically taking up the s a in said ribbon.

3. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism including a spool, a ribbon reversing, mechanism, a movable r l' boncontrolled means including a. projection on the ribbon and a ribbon guide movable by said projection in a direction away from said spool for operating said reversing mechanism, means for returning the ribbon cou trolled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and ribbon guide, and means other than the ribbon feeding mechanism for automatically and substantially instantaneously taking up the slack in said ribbon immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism.

4. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism including a spool, a ribbon reversing mechanism, a movable ribboncontrolled means including a projection on the ribbon and a ribbon guide movable by said projection in a direction away from said spool for operating said reversing mechanism, means for returning the ribbon controlled means to its initial position immediatelv following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and ribbon guide, and means operable during the return movement of the ribbon-controlled means for automatically taking up the slack in said ribbon.

5x In a typewriter or the like. a pair of ribbon spools to which a ribbon is adaptwl to be wimnected. a shaft for each spool e mi ,3 f upper and lower sections roiatsb'le reiat ieiy one to the other, the spool being fixed to the upper shaft section, means for feeding; said ribbon from one spool to the other, means for rotating said shaft sections in the same direction under the influence of the ribbon feeling means, a ribbon reversing mechanism] iVf-iOfiated with each spool, and a ribbon corxt -nli 'l means for operatirg said reversing incrimnism. the upper shaft section being rotated in the same direction but faster than the lower section by the return movement of the ribbon ontrolled means immediately sul'isemient to the beginning of the operation of the reversing mechanism to take up the ribbon slack between the spool and the ribbon controlled means.

6. In a typewriter or the like, a pair of ribbon spools to which a ribbon is adapted to be connected, a shaft for each spool consisting of upper and lower sections rotatable relat ive ly one to the other, the spool being); fixed to the upper shaft section, means for feeding said ribbon from one spool to the other, means for rotating said shaft sections in the same direction under the influence oi the ribbon feeding means, a ribbon re ersin g mechanism in.- sociated with each spool. said upper Filllfl sec tion being provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a riblmn-controlii means for operating said reversing niech ism. means for turning the ribboii-controlled means to its initial position wherein, a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the ribbnw controlled means. and Home; mo able wih the ribbons-(nitrolled means and operable during the return movement of the latter to engage the ratchet teeth and hereby rotate the upper ft section in the some direction as at a faster a ed than the lower shaft section to take up said ribbon slack.

T. in a typewriter or the like, a pair of rib bon spoois to which a ri bon is adapted to -be acted, a shaft for each spooi consisting of upper and lower secti :is rotata relativrlv one to the o. the spool brin' "-d to the upper shaft settion, means for fcedinsr said bbon from one spool to the other, means for 1\ ting said shaft sections in the same direction under the influence of the ribbon fee I l" means, a ribbon reversing mechanism :rsociatcd with each spool, said upper shaft section being provided with a series of ratchet teeth. a ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism, means fo returning, the ribboncontrolled means to its initial position whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the ribbon-controlleil means, a spring arm carried by said l'ii)l)(il;- controlled means, and a series of teeth fixed to said spring arm for en; ring the ratchet teeth of the upper shaft section durin;, the return movement of the ribbon wntrolling me; in and thereby rotate the upper shaft s ction in the same tlil'it'tlOil as l-ut at a faster: d than the lower shaft section to tileup said ribbon slack.

8. in a typewriter or the like, a pair of ribbon spools to which a ribbon is adapted to be connected, a. shaft for each spool consisting of upper and lower sections roia ahie relativciy one to the other, the spool being fixed to the upper shaft section, means for feeding); said ribbon from one spool to the other, means for rotating said shaft sections in the same direction under the influence of the ribbon feeding means, a ribbon reversing mechanism associated with each spool, said upper shaft section being provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism and including a button on the ribbon, a ribbon guide engageable by Eli) iltl

the button, and a horizontally movable arm for supporting said guide, means for return ing the ribbon-controlled m ens to i s initial position whereby a slack in the ribbon formed between the spool and the ribbon guide, and means carried by the horizontally movable arm of the ribbon-controlled n'ieans and operable during the return movement of the latter to engage the ratchet teeth and thereby rotate the upper shaft section in the same direction as but at a faster s, ed than the lower shaft section to take up said ribbon slack.

9. In a typewriter or the like. a pair of ribbon spools to which a ribbon is adapted to be connected, a shaft for each spool consisting of upper and lower sections rotatable relatively one to the other, the spool being liXed to the upper shaft section, means for feeding said ribbon from one spool to the other, means for rotating said shaft sections in the same direction under the influence of the ribbon feeding means, a ribbon reversing mechanism associated with each spool, a rib hon-controlled means for operating); said reversing mechanism, means for returning the ril bon-controlle l means to its initial position whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the ribbon-colitrolled means, and means operable by the ribboncontrolled means ouring the return movement of the latter to rotate the upper shaft section in the same direction as the lower shaft section to take up said ribbon slack.

10. In a typewriter or the like, a pair of ribbon spools to which a ribbon is adapted to be connected, a shaft for each spool consisting of upper and lower sections rotatable relatively one to the other, the spool being fixed to the upper shaft section, means for feeding said ribbon from one spool to the other, means for rotatin said shaft sections in the same direction on er the in luence of the ribbon feeding means. a ribbon reversing mechanism ;=.s:-;ociate=;l with each spool, said upper shaft section being provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mecha nism, means for returning the ribbon-conrolled means to its initial position whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool ml the ribbonwontrolled means. and means movable with the ribbon -controlled means and operable during the return move .llf'ZI-i of the lat er to engage the ratchet teeth and thereby rotate the upper stiaft section in the ie direction the lower shaft section to take up said ribbon slack.

11. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism, a ribbon reversing mech anism. a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism, a spring for returning the ribbon controlled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed, and means operable by and during the return movement of the ribboncontrolled means for automatically taking up the slack in said ribbon.

12. In a typewriter or the like, a pair of ribbon spools to which a ribbon is adapted to be connected, a shaft for each spool consisting of upper and lower sections rotatable relatively one to the other, the spool being fixed to the upper shaft section, means for feeding said ribbon from one spool to the other, means for rotating said shaft sections in the same direction under the influence of the ribbon feeding means. a ribbon reversing mechanism assocated with each spool, and a ribbon controlled means for operating, said reversing HIQCl'HlIliSIll and including a return sin'ing, the upper shaft section being rotated in the same direction but faster than the lower section by the return spring during the return movement of the ribbon controlled means immediately subsequent to the beginning of the operation of the reversing mechanism to tahe up the ribbon slack between the spool and the ribbon controlled means.

13. In a typewriter or the like, a pair of ribbon spools to which a ribbon is adapted to be connected, a shaft for each spool consisting of upper and lower sections rotatable relatively one to the other, the spool being fixed to the upper shaft section, means for feeding said ribbon from one spool to the other, means for rotating said shaft sections in the same direction under the influence of the ribbon feeding means, a ribbon reversing mechanism associated with each spool, said upper shaft section being provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism, means for returning the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position whereby a slack in tho 'ibbon will be formed between the spool and the IlbllOKl-(OlltlOlIGd means, and means movable with the ribbon-controlled means and operable during the return movement of the latter to engage the ratchet teeth and thereby rotate the upper shaft section in the same direction as the lower shaft section to take up said ribbon slack, said upper shaft section being rotated by the ribboncontrolled means independently of the ribbon feeding means.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE F. HANDLEY. 

